Dark Horse’s variant cover programme on the MOTU titles is the most complete published map of the property’s modern visual identity. Across roughly forty issues from the Revelation prequel in 2021 through the Revolution tie-in in 2024 and the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe ongoing in 2025, the variant slots have rotated through nearly every name in modern comics cover work.
The Revelation prequel (2021, four issues) opened the era. Main covers by Dan Fraga locked in the show-accurate Powerhouse Animation style that Kevin Smith’s Netflix series used. Variant covers added Stjepan Sejic, Dan Panosian, and Skottie Young. Young’s chibi variant for issue one became the surprise hit and now moves around $40 in NM.
Masterverse (2023, four issues) widened the bench. Main covers came from Tim Seeley, with variants from Mateus Manhanini, Cully Hamner, and a 1:25 ratio incentive from Bjorn Barends that has hammered as high as $120. Forge of Destiny (2023, four issues) brought Tony Fleecs onto main, with variants from Sweeney Boo and Dan Hipp. The Hipp variants are particular favourites for the looser, more cartoon-styled approach.
Revolution (2024, four issues, tying into the Netflix animated continuation) escalated the variant programme. Main covers from Mateus Manhanini, variants from Frank Cho, Dan Mora, Peach Momoko, and a 1:50 ratio Stanley Lau (Artgerm) cover on issue one that is the highest-value Dark Horse MOTU variant printed to date. NM Artgerm 1:50s have moved past $300.
Andra (2025, four issues) is the property’s first solo title for an Origins-era character and features cover art by Marguerite Sauvage on main, with variants from Joelle Jones and Babs Tarr. The Sauvage covers carry a distinctive flat, illustrative style that contrasts sharply with the painterly Mora work on the parallel ongoing series.
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2025, twelve-issue ongoing) brought in Dan Mora as the main cover artist and treats variants as a rotating gallery: Walt Simonson on issue one, Frank Cho on issue three, Peach Momoko on issue six, Bjorn Barends on issue eight, and a continuing list announced through 2026.
For collectors building variant runs, the Artgerm Revolution issue 1 is the trophy. The Skottie Young Revelation chibi is the gateway piece. NM raw is the practical grade target.
Catalogue source: heman.fandom.com, Dark Horse Comics press materials (CC BY-SA 3.0).
